Pak denying Jaish-e-Mohammad role in Pulwama attack: MEA

New Delhi, Mar 9 : India on Saturday said that it is surprising that Pakistan continues to deny the involvement of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pulwama attack despite 'ownership' of the attack by JeM and asserted that the non-military strike on the JeM camp on February 26 achieved its desired objective.

"It is regrettable that Pakistan is still continuing to deny Jaish-e-Mohammad's own claim of taking the ownership of Pulwama attack," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar told reporters here. "Pakistan should explain why it continues to deny that its F-16 aircraft has been shot down (by Wing Commander Abhinandan)," he said.

"We have asked United States to examine if the use of F16 against India by Pakistan is according to their terms and conditions of its sale," he said. "We have also shared evidence in the form of parts of AMRAAM missile which were recovered from the site and are only carried by F-16 aircraft of the PAF," he said.

Mr Kumar maintained that Indian Air Force 'non-military counter-terrorism' strike achieved the desired objective. "It has demonstrated our firm resolve to take decisive action against cross border terrorism," he said.

He repeated that only one MiG 21 Bison aircraft was lost by India during Pakistan's misadventure at targeting Indian military installations in the northern sector on February 27 - a day after India carried out aerial strike at Balakot terror camp.

He said Pakistan-based terror groups were conducting their activities without any hindrance. The MEA spokesman maintained there has been hardly any credible action taken by Pakistan yet against terror infrastructures.

".....If Pakistan claims to be ‘Naya Pakistan’, it should display ‘Naya Action’ against terror groups on its soil," he said.